Congressional Debate

A mock legislative session simulating the workings of the United States Congress. Students debate peer-authored articles of legislation. A student-elected Presiding Officer (PO) facilitates debate and manages the chamber under standard rules of procedure ( Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised). The Parliamentarian is an adult tournament official who monitors the activities of the chamber for the purpose of preserving competitive equity. He or she also provides guidance on matters of parliamentary procedure and serves as a resource to whom judges can direct questions. The Presiding Officer (PO) is a student competitor in the chamber, chosen by his or her peers. The PO calls upon speakers to debate each piece of legislation, alternating speeches from affirmative (in favor) to negative (opposed). He or she also calls upon questioners, handles motions and voting, and keeps time. Judges do not need to keep time or to manage speaker order. There are no time violation penalties. The students, under the leadership of the PO and the guidance of the Parliamentarian, manage the chamber. The first affirmative (often called authorship or sponsorship) and the first negative speeches are up to three minutes in length, followed by four 30-second periods of direct questioning by students in the chamber. All subsequent speeches are up to three minutes in length, followed by two 30-second periods of direct questioning. Once debate on a piece of legislation has been exhausted, the chamber will move the previous question and vote on the matter. Generally, but not always, a five- to ten-minute recess follows the vote, allowing students and judges the opportunity to take a break.